December 06, 2012 08:25 PM CSTDecember 06, 2012 08:36 PM CSTGrant: Hamilton, Greinke or Upton? Rangers could end up with all three

Grant: Hamilton, Greinke or Upton? Rangers could end up with all three

2/11

Jim Bryant/AP

10. Two-run homer off Seattle's J.J. Putz; April 1, 2008: This is one most Ranger fans won't remember, but it's significant nonetheless. In his second-ever game with the team, Hamilton stepped to the plate in the 9th inning with the Rangers trailing 4-3 and Ian Kinsler standing on first. Mariners closer J.J. Putz threw Hamilton a first-pitch fastball, which he cranked into the right field bleachers for a go-ahead homer. Not only was it Hamilton's first homer as a Ranger, but it foreshadowed so much of what he would come to achieve in Texas.

By the end of the siege Thursday morning, the Rangers hotel suite at the winter meetings resembled a kidnapper’s lair with empty bottles and half-eaten snack bars strewn around the room.

In this case, looks aren’t deceiving.

For three days in the glass-encased labyrinth known as the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, the Rangers held baseball hostage.

Everything that happened — or, rather, that didn’t happen — was because the Rangers’ commandos, headed by general manager Jon Daniels, got involved and wrestled control of the situation. They smothered the Josh Hamilton and Zack Greinke negotiations. They jammed up the Justin Upton, James Shields and R.A. Dickey trade talks.

And they still managed to stealthily put in place the infrastructure of a deal that could send Michael Young, the club’s all-time hits and games played leader, to Philadelphia, clearing the way for Jurickson Profar.

None of it ended up getting announced in Nashville, but, rest assured, the Rangers feel they have secured the perimeter in their master plan. It’s not unrealistic to think that by Christmas, the Rangers could have Hamilton and Greinke.

Oh, and Upton, too. No, really.

Despite lots of rumors that had the Rangers zig-zagging in different directions, it is becoming clear that thatwhat appeared to be chaos, was, in fact, a broad attack on baseball. The Rangers want it all and have the currency — both in terms of real money and prospects — to make it happen.

“We have been aggressive on the things we wanted to be,” Daniels said.

“We didn’t push anything across the finish line,” he added. “But we are moving in that direction.”

Daniels likened these winter meetings to Indianapolis in 2009. The only thing the Rangers got done there: A salary-dump trade of Kevin Millwood to Baltimore. But they did do significant legwork that allowed them to strengthen the bullpen (by signing Darren Oliver), bolster the rotation (by signing Colby Lewis and Rich Harden) and getting a huge bat for the middle of the lineup (signing Vladimir Guerrero).

It’s not dissimilar to the talks about Young and for Hamilton, Greinke and Upton.

The first step would be for Young to approve the trade that would send him to Philadelphia, along with more than $10 million in cash. The Rangers would likely net reliever Josh Lindblom and a prospect. And though they’ve agreed on pieces and, apparently, cash, the deal still requires Young’s approval. While he would get a chance to play regularly in Philly as opposed to losing playing time in Texas, he’d have to leave his wife and three sons behind. That’s not so easy, even for six months, for a player who has made his family his priority. Asking a player to waive no trade power also requires negotiations with the player, so there is still that step.

Beyond that, it becomes all about the money. Club president Nolan Ryan on Wednesday left open the possibility of approaching ownership about busting the budget (by likely pushing it over $150 million) to sign both Hamilton and Greinke if that opportunity presented itself. Because the mega-market hasn’t appeared for Hamilton, the chances of getting him on a shorter-term deal makes it more likely he returns to Texas and the seeming lack of big, big offers gives the Rangers a little leverage in the conversations. It certainly doesn’t hurt their position for Hamilton to think the Rangers could get Upton or Hamilton and not both.

At the start of the meetings, it appeared Greinke was headed for the Los Angeles Dodgers because of their deep, deep pockets. After three days, though, it became clear the Rangers were at least running neck and neck with the Dodgers.

It appears Ryan may need to have that meeting with ownership. And soon.

To get Upton, too, the Rangers would have to be able to delicately work their way through a multi-team deal that also includes Cleveland and Arizona. That would require including prospect Mike Olt and perhaps Derek Holland. And while they are at it, if they can find somebody to take on the bulk of Nelson Cruz’s remaining one-year $11 million salary, adding Upton would not impact the payroll at all.

It’s complicated. It’s delicate. It could all fall apart in a minute. But, if it’s successful, the Rangers might just get world domination as ransom for their three-day takeover of Nashville.

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